University of Santo Tomas has officially announced the return of Shaq Delos Santos as head coach of the Golden Tigresses, the school’s women’s volleyball team, as preparations begin for the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Following another failed attempt to end the Golden Tigresses’ 15-year championship drought, UST has decided to have a reshuffling among its ranks with longtime mentor Kungfu Reyes — the team’s head coach for the past decade — going up as program director while promoting deputy Delos Santos as head coach.
Delos Santos was the last coach to lead UST to a UAAP women’s volleyball title in Season 72 back in 2010.
“I am pleased to confirm the new appointments in our Women’s Volleyball Team, following thoughtful discussions with both coaches. I appreciate Coach Kungfu and Coach Shaq’s professionalism as well as the many sacrifices they made for the sake of the team,” UST IPEA director and UAAP Season 88 president Rev. Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., told Tiebreaker Times.
“Let us continue to rally behind our team as they gear up for UAAP Season 88.”
Delos Santos initially took over the program in 2008 after then-head coach August Sta. Maria suffered a mild stroke.
He led the Golden Tigresses until Season 73 in 2011, steering the team to two bronze-medal finishes, one runner-up placement, and a championship in Season 72.
After UST’s finals loss to the De La Salle Lady Spikers in Season 73, Delos Santos resigned and returned to his alma mater, Far Eastern University, where he coached the Lady Tamaraws for four seasons.
During his stint, FEU reached the Final Four three times and came within a game of making the Finals in Season 78.
In 2023, Delos Santos briefly coached University of the Philippines in Season 85, stepping in after Kenyan coach Godfrey Okumu stepped down.
After his short stint with the Fighting Maroons, he returned to UST as an assistant coach for Seasons 86 and 87.
On the national stage, Delos Santos also led the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team from 2018 until Jorge Souza de Brito took over the position in 2022.
For Season 88, Delos Santos inherits a solid core that includes Detdet Pepito, Jonna Perdido, Angge Poyos, Cassie Carballo, Reg Jurado, Marga Altea, and Xyza Gula — giving the returning tactician a promising foundation to build on.
With Delos Santos stepping back into the head coaching role, Kungfu Reyes will now transition to Program Director for UST’s Women’s and Girls’ Volleyball programs, while continuing as head coach of the Junior Golden Tigresses.
Throughout his tenure as UST’s head coach, Reyes compiled an impressive 64-36 record in the elimination rounds across eight UAAP seasons. However, his teams struggled in the postseason, managing just a 4-9 win-loss record.
Reyes led the Golden Tigresses to five Final Four appearances and two Finals stints in Seasons 81 and 86. His best campaign came in Season 86, when UST went 12-2 in the eliminations and advanced to the Finals, only to fall short against a redemption-driven NU Lady Bulldogs squad.
As program director, Reyes will now focus on one of his strongest suits — recruitment.
His expertise will be crucial for a Golden Tigresses side that recently lost veterans Pia Abbu and Renren Penafiel, as well as a Junior Golden Tigresses squad bidding farewell to Jaila Adrao, Lianne Penuliar, and Avril Bron.
